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The iPoker Network found itself embroiled in a bit of a quagmire this past week after a customer service client informed players they were playing against the dreaded bots (robots), those nasty little computer generated mechanisms that tend to be smarter than the average online poker player.
“Sorry for the confusion, but that was a bot you were playing against,” responds the PaddyPower rep when quizzed by a player as to the legitimacy of a someone playing under the name “bot771107” playing on MTTs on Paddy skin iPoker tables.
Further fuel was added to the fire when another iPoker network online poker room, William Hill, included in its terms and conditions the following:
“in games offered via the Website which benefit from more players or greater liquidity,” the site “may deploy electronic players (known as robots, and whose usernames will be 'bot’) who are pre-programmed to play and join in with the game.”
iPoker was quick to defend its stance against bots. They issued the following statement days after the “bot” controversy got brewing:
We would like to take this opportunity to publish the network's policy and stance on automated "bots" being used on iPoker.
We are sorry that it took us a while to compile the statement as we had to put a focus on our investigations first.
Our policy is clear:
1. A poker account is to be used exclusively by the registered account holder and the use of any automated "bots" is prohibited.
2. In all cases where iPoker security department is satisfied that an account is being used in any other way than by the sole registered account holder the account is closed.
3. This is done in every case regardless of how much rake the account has contributed, and forum posts that suggest iPoker ignores "bots" because of the rake they generate are very much wide of the mark.
The network's security department regularly checks suspicious accounts at all stake levels and is freezing accounts for failing our "bot" testing procedures, as well as taking firm measures towards affiliates of such "bots" rings.
The integrity of the network is our highest priority and it is essential that players know they are in a secure environment. We will always investigate any account that we suspect of using "bots" and if the members of the iPoker network have concerns over particular accounts we request to receive these concerns and inquiries for investigation.
With regards to "bot771107" we can categorically state that the account is not a "house bot". iPoker, nor William Hill, do not and never have used house bots. The account in question is not a William Hill player.
With reference to the William Hill terms and conditions, the confusion has been caused due to their Terms & Conditions for skill games allowing "bot" players not being explicit. They have now rectified this.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
